Career
He was an early pioneer of ridge soaring in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians in the 1960s, ultimately setting five world records flying gliders there. He was the stunt pilot in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair. Knauff was the first glider pilot to fly 750 km and 1000 km triangle course flights in the United States, and was the first to fly 1000 km with a passenger.
His 1,647 km (1,023 mi) out-and-return flight in 1983 was the world"s longest glider flight at the time, stood as a world record for nearly 20 years, and is still a United States. national record.
He has set more than 50 other United States. National soaring records. His glider flight training manuals, Glider Basics from First Flight to Solo and Glider Basics from Solo to License are the most popular in the United States., and he is one of the most respected glider flight instructors in the world.
He is one of the few Federal Aviation Administration designated pilot examiners who are authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates. They own and operate the Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Pennsylvania, which they founded in 1975.
Knauff has set the following records:
Single-place glider
Out-and-return distance: 1,646.68 km, 25 April 1983, Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3
Distance over a triangular course: 1,362.68 km, 2 May 1986, Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3
Free distance using up to 3 turn points: 1,394.04 km, 1 June 1993, Schempp-Hirth Discus B
Two-place glider
Out-and-return distance: 829.7 km, 7 April 1979, IAR Instruction Section-28B2 "Lark"
Out-and-return distance: 1,000.88 km, 28 September 1981, Grob Twin Astir II
Over 50 United States. national gliding records
World/National gliding competitions
Kronfield Challenge Cup 1991 (First American)
Eaton Trophy (with Doris Grove) 2000
du Pont Trophy 1989
Stroukoff Trophy 1989
FAI 1000K Diploma #15 (International #31) 1980.
